Advances in medical technology, a growing and aging population in East Tennessee, increases in the number of people seeking higher education and the abundance of medical facilities and schools in a relatively small geographic area also contribute to more people working in the educational, health and social-services industries, according to Rice and Patricia Naff, human resources director at Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville.

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"There are a variety of jobs available in health care now," Naff said.

What once was considered a "nurse and doctor" field has expanded, particularly during the 1990s, to a field with jobs in imaging, pharmacy, respiratory care, support services, billing and information systems.

"We certainly have to be more competitive with other industries," Naff said."We're competing with for-profits for (employees.)"

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"If they possess a clinical skill, I wouldn't think they would have a problem in the world finding a job in any hospital in East Tennessee," Naff said.

"Appreciated - that's what this day is about and it's how we hope it makes employees feel," said hospital human resources director Patricia Naff.

Employees enjoyed perks on Valentine's Day including massages, manicures and refreshments in the hospital auditorium, Medical Office Building and at off-site locations.

In addition to a box of Valentine chocolates for each worker, night-shift employees also were served a midnight breakfast.

As a result of Blount Memorial's sponsorship of the National Women's Basketball League team, the Tennessee Fury, each Blount Memorial employee received a Tennessee Fury T-shirt, _a free ticket to the team's home season opener and each employee can enter a drawing to win a team jacket.